Extension table



B. BENSON EXTENSION TABLE Filed July 2, 1930 Nov. 8, 1932.

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EXTENSION TABLE Filed July 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 agi #fs @Hbf-ngPatented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES BENNIE BENSON, F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORKEXTENSION TABLE Application led July 2, 1930. Serial No. 465,313.

This invention relates to an improvement in extension leaf tables andmore particularly to the method and means for extending and retractingthe leaves.

The preferred embodiment of this invention discloses a tablev having afixed top beneath which are mounted leaves which may, by manipulation ofa single leaf, be drawn from beneath and raised into the same plane withsaid top.

Although devices of the same general class have been produced, it isbelieved this invention is an improvement over present structures inthat no manual adj ustment, other than the extension or retraction ofone of the leaves, need be made to cause both leaves to engage thetabletop or to move to concealment therebeneath.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a table havingextension means by which to raise table leaves from a concealed positionbeneath the table top into the same plane and in engagement with saidtop. Another object of this invention is to provide an automaticallyreversing slide by which to move tableleaves into engagement with atable top or to concealed position.

Other and further objects of the invention will be-apparent from aconsideration of the following specification which is taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in which Fig. 1 is aplan view of a table with leaves extended, parts being broken away todisclose certain details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1; v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View, showing the leavesextended and in engagement with a table top; v

Figs. 4 and 5 show two positions of the eX- tended leaf during itstravel from engagement with the table top, as shown in Figure 3, toretractedj position beneath said top as shown in Figure 6; Y

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectionalview taken through the tableslides ysubstantially as indicated at 7-7`in Figure 8;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing further details ofconstruction;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the table slides showing the methodof retaining said slides in operable engagement with each other and istaken substantially on the line 9 9 of'Figure 7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the slides;

Fig. 11-is a fragmentary perspective view of the plate mounted on eachslide;

Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical sectional 60 view of a modification ofthis invention, showingthe leaves in extended position and in engagementwith a table top; and

Figs. 13 and 14 showtwo positions of the leaf when being moved fromextended to retracted position beneath the table topy as shown in Figure15.

Referring to the drawings, a table 10, of which this invention forms apart, is comprised of a vtop 12, legs 13 and leaves 14 and 70 15.Enclosing the table mechanism are the usual rails which are joined tothe underfaces of the leaves 14 and 15 and -to the table top 12. Therails 17 of the top 12 terminate along each longitudinal side of thetable a short distance from the'legs 13 in order to provide an opening18 into which the leaves may move when retracted.v

Permanently joined to the under face of the top 12, and transverselydisposed thereto, are supporting rails 20. These rails are preferablylocated adjacent the ends of the table and are adapted to support themovable elements which in turn support leaves 14' and 15. These railsmay be secured to the S5 under face of the table top or to crosssupporting members in accordance with the type of tablewith which thisstructure is used or in any other practical manner. It will be noted,however, that the rails 20 (see Figure 90 7) are spaced a slightdistance from the top 12 to produce a gap or opening 21. Mounted in thisopening and supported on each of the rails 2O is a shaft 23, having ahorizontal sprocket or gear 24 mounted thereon. -The 95 sprocket 24 isof a diameter greater'than the width ofthera-il 20. Upon the upper endof the shaft 23 is secured a plate 26. Beneath this plate is located aspring 27, the lowermost coil of which bears against a channel platewall.

28, from which flanges 29 project downwardly. In the horizontal portionof the channel 28, openings 81 are formed by producing pairs ofupstanding flanges 82. These flanges have openings through which pinsare passed to support rollers 34. The rollers are of a diameter suchthat the upper surface bears against the under face of the top l2 andthe lower surface against the movable slides. rlhe purpose of thisarrangement is to prevent any variation in the space between slides andtable top and also to so tie the slides to each other that they operatewithout any relative lost motion.

The rails 20, mounted beneath the top 12, are each adapted to supportextension slides 36 and 37. These slides are mounted, one on each sideof the rail, and operably engaged therewith by means of pins '88, two ofwhich are provided to support each slide. A number of perforations 30,in the vertical wall 39 of each slide, are engaged by the sprocket l24,by means of which the slides are caused `to move simultaneously and inopposite directions. The wall 39 terminates in lower and upper flanges40 and 42. In the wall 39 are two identical tracks 41` through whichextend the supporting pins 38. Secured to 0r forming` part of the wall89 is a portion 43 which extends the full length of the slide andbywhich is defined one edge of a longitudinally extending recess 45.Each track 41, for the purpose of description, is formed by parallelvertically spaced slots 46 and 47 which are Connected by an inclinedslot 48. One end of the upper slot 46 is connected with the center ofthe lower slot 47 by the slot 48. It will be noted that the upper slot46 is cut through both the vertical wall 39 and the portion 43 of theslide whereas the lower slot 47 is cut only through the vertical Theconnecting slot 48 is obviously cut through both the reinforcing portionand the vertical wall of the slide.

Mounted in the recess is a sliding plate 49. This plate is held in placeby an endbraelret'l and a flange 52, both of which are removably lioinedte the slide. The plate 49 is provided with two slots 54 which areparallel with and adjacent the lower flange 4() of the slide.Corresponding ends cf these slots open into angularly disposed slots 56which are open-ended along the upper edge ef the plate 49. Vllhe angleof the slots 56 Yis identical with the angle of the slots 48 formed inthe slide proper andvwhen said plate is inovedto the position, shown inFigure 8 of the drawings, these slots Coincide to produce the continuoustrack 41 along' which the pin 38 travels in a manner to be later' setforth.

Mounted on the upper flange and adja* lent the extendable end oftheslide, is a liloclr 59 upon which one of the table leaves is mounted.The leaf is secured thronghthe block to the flange 42 of the slide. Inany suitable manner, as by screws 60, the slide ends are concealed fromview by a vertical shirt or rail secured to the under face of the leaf.

The operation of the device is as follows. Referring to Figure 8, itwill be noted that the leaf 14 is extended into engagement with the top12. The pins 38 are adjacent corresponding ends of the slot 54 in theplate 49 and slot 4'? of the slide proper. To disengage and lower theleaf to the position shown in Figure 6, it is necessary to withdraw saidleaf from engagement with the top 12, a distance such that the pins 38will be moved to the beginning of the angle slots 48 and Since there isa certain amount of weight te the leaf and slide, said elements willdrop as the pins travel upwardly int-o one end of the slots 46. Byreason of the angularity of the connecting slots, the leaf 14 will havemoved inwardly as it drops to a position substantially as shown inFigure 5. inasmuch as the leaf is now beneath the lower edge of the top12, it may be moved inwardly to occupy a concealed position beneath saidtop, as shown in Figure 6.

A somewhat different movement of the slide elements takes place when theleaf is extended. To raise the leaf into engagement with the table top,it is pulled out wardly, moving it from the position shown in Figure 6to that shown in Figure 5. Further outward pull causes the leaf to beraised as the pins 88 move downwardly through the slots 48 and 56. Afterthe leaf has been raised to the plane of the top 12, a still fnrtheroutward pull is exerted which causes the pins 38 to move toward the endsof the slots 47 which extend beyond the slots 54 formed in the plate 49.Since the plate 49 is movable relative to the slide, such action causessaid plate, by contact with pins 88, to move to the position shown inFigure 4 thus closing the angular slots 48 and 56 in the vertical wallof both slide and plate. The leaf may now be moved inwardly to engageVthe 'table top and thepins 38 will travel to the end of the slots 54 inthe plates 49. Since the slot 47 extends beyond the slots 54, by reasonof movement of the plate 49, said plate is caused to move relative tothe slide to again assume the position shown in Figure 3, namely, withthe angular slot 56 coinciding with the slet 48. It will be noted thatduring the process of moving the leaf into engagement with the tabletop, the angular slot 48 is closed, but as said leaf is brought intoengagement with the top, said slot is opened preparatory to permittingVthe pin 88 to travel'upwardly therethrough into the slot 46 when it isde sired to retract the leaf.

Operation of but one slide has been described for the reason that theother slide, located on the opposite side of the rail 20, functions inthe same manner, at the same ytime and through movement of one leaf.This is due to the fact that the slides are connected for reverseoperation through the sprocket 24.

It is obvious that as little room as possible between the top of theleaf and the under face of the table top is desirable and at the sametime these two elements must not contact or the surface of the leaf willbe marred. To prevent marring the leaves and to insure a uniformopposite movement of slides is the function of the channel 28. Therollers 84, mounted on said, channel, prevent contact of the leaf withthe table top as well as assisting in the smooth operation of thedevice.

with two tracks 66. To form a guide for thel movable plate 68, a plate69 is secured to or formed integral with the upper portion of thevertical wall 70 in the slide by which a longitudinal recessed opening72 is formed. The plate 68, mounted in the recess 72, is provided alongthe upper edge with spaced projections 74. In the lower portion of theplate longitudinally extending closed slots 75 are made. Secured to thevertical wall 70 of the slide 65 are pins 77, the ends of which projectthrough the slots 75 and control the travel of the plate 68 relative tothe slide 65. At one end of each of the spaced projections 74 anopen-ended longitudinally extending slot 79 is formed. As will be notedby referring to Figure 12, the slots 7 9 are in the same plane with thelower portions 81 of the tracks 66.

K Adjacent the end of each slot 79, and pivotally mounted therebeneath,is adog 82, which is yieldably supported in upright position by means ofthe spring 83. The dog 82 is adapted to open and close the slot 79during certain stages of the movement of the slide 65. Se-

. cured to the wall 70 of the slide 65 is a compression spring 85. Thisspring is adapted to engage the shoulder 86 of the projection 74,

. causing the plate 68 to normally remain in the position shown inFigure 12. The slideV 65 is i operably engaged with the rail 2O by pins88 7 9, close the downwardly inclined portions of tracks 66. As the leafis withdrawn, the pins 88 travel to the other end of the tracks 66,moving downwardly toward the portion 81, striking the projectionsV 74and causing the plate 68, of which said projections form a part, to moveand uncover the entrance into the portion 81. The travel of the leafthus far has been outwardly and upwardly into the same plane with thetable top 12. The pins 88 now lie within the beginning of the portions81 and slots '79. By reason of the tension of the spring on the plate68, said plate, after moving to permit entrance of the pins 88 intoslots'7 9, travels to the position shown in Figure 12, thus closing theupwardly inclined exit from the portion 81 of the track. Consequently,as the leaf is moved inwardly yto engage the table top, the pins 88 musttravel to the end of portions 81 and in so doing, dogs 82 are depressedand allowed to return to normal position once the pins are past.

The leaf 14 may be retracte-d by withdrawing it from engagement with thetable top. This outward movement` causes pins 88 to strike the dogs 82which in turn strike the portions 74 of the plate 68, moving said platea distance equal to the length of the slots 75, which distance issufficient to uncover the inclined openings into the tracks 66 (seeFigure 18) When this point is reached, the leaf is moved inwardly anddrops down to the position shown in Figure 14 as the pins travelupwardly in the tracks 66. The leaf 14 now being below the level of thetable top may be moved to concealed yposition as shown inFigure 15.

Although applicant has shown but two modilications of his invention, andin connection with an extension leaf table, it is obvious that thismethod of raising and lowering members may be applied to variousstructures and applicant therefore contemplates any use of his device asmay be consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what T claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A table having a rail supported top, movable leaves, slides securedto and supporting said leaves, a sprocket engaging adjacent of saidslides for producing reverse directional motion, meanspreventingdisengagement of said slides with said sprocket and rollers carried bysaid means, said rollers being adapted to reduce the frictional contactof said -slides with said means.

2. A table having a fixed top, movable leaves beneath said top, railssecured to said top, slides operably engaged with said rails, a sprocketmounted upon each of said rails and engaged with adjacent of saidslides, said 8.' In an extension leaf table having a supn porting rail,a slide engaged with and movlla) 'las

able relative to said rail, walls defining spaced tracks in saidslide,walls defining aslot connecting` said tracks, and means adapted to closesaid slot during movement of said leaf from one position to another.

In an extension leaf table having a supporting rail, slides, wallsdefining upper and lower connecting tracks in said slides, pins carriedby said r il, said pins being projected into said tracks and adapted tosupport said slides, means actuated by said pins, said means beingadapted to prevent travel of said pins from one track to the otherduring a part of the operation of moving said leaves from one positionto another.

5. In an extension leaf table, a fixed rail, a slide adjacent said rail,a longitudinally eX- tcnding recess in said slide, walls defining upperand lower trac rs in said slide, a plate mounted in said recess, pinscarried by said rail, said pins being` adapted to actuate said platewhereby to close the connection between said tracks during a partof theoperation of manipulating the table leaves.

6. In an extension leaf table having a fixed top, a rail spaced from andsecured to said top, reversely disposed slides adjacent opposite facesof said rail, walls defining upper and lower tracks in each of saidslides, pins carried by said rail, said pins being projected into saidtracks and supporting said slides, and means actuated during the travelof said slides, said means being adapted to close the c nnection betweensaid upper and lower tracks during a part of the operation ofmanipulating the table leaves.

7 In extension leaf table having a fixed rail, a slide, a recess formedlongitudinally of said slide, walls defining upper and lower tracksinslide,a plate in said recess, openended tracks in said plate inhorizontal alignnient with the lower tracks in said slide, and meansadapted to move said plate relative to said slide whereby to close theconnection between said upper and said lower tracks during a part of theoperation of said slide.

8. In an extension leaf table having a fixed rail, a slide adjacent saidrail, walls defining upper :and lower connecting parallel tracks in saidslide, a pin carried by said rail project-ing into one of said tracksand supporting said slide, a plate carried by said slide, means in saidplate engageable by said pin, whereby the connection between said upperand lower tracks is closed during certain steps of the operation of thedevice by movement of said plate relative to said slide.

9. In an extension leaf table having a fixed rail, slides mounted onsaid rail, pins carried by said rail and supporting said slides formovement relative thereto, a sprocket mounted on said rail operablyengaged with said slides, means preventing disengagement of said slideswith said sprocket, and further means actuated by said pins, saidfurther means elevating said slides during outward movement thereof.

l0. In an extension leaf table having a fixed rail, a slide, wallsdefining connected upper and lower parallel tracks in said slide, pinscarried by said rail projecting into one of said tracks and supportingsaid slide, a plate mounted on said slide, walls defining openendedslots in said plate, said slots, when said slide is in position of rest,coinciding with the lower track of said slide whereby to permituninterrupted `movement of said pins relative to said slide.

11. In an extension leaf table having a fixed rail, a slide, a pincarried by said rail supporting said slide, a plate carried by saidslide, walls defining an open-ended slot in said plate, said pin beingadapted to enter said slot and move said plate relative to said slideduring a part of the operation of extending said slide.

In testimony whereof I have axed my signature.

BENN IE BENSON.

